Immigrants own houses at much higher rates than Canadians

A newly released report by Statistics Canada, based on 2021 census data, shows that immigrants have significantly higher rates of home ownership than the Canadian-born population.

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A newly released report by Statistics Canada, based on 2021 census data, shows that immigrants have significantly higher rates of home ownership than the Canadian-born population.

An analysis of the latest national census shows that immigrants occupied 310 housing units per 1,000 people in 2021 — significantly more than Canadian-born individuals at 271 units. Additionally, asylum claimants and temporary foreign workers rent at nearly three times the Canadian-born rate.

Those figures are likely much higher today, given that immigration has surged since the 2021 Census.

The OECD’s 2025 economic survey of Canada highlights that the federal government’s record-breaking immigration levels are inflating overall GDP while the average Canadian is becoming poorer.

While total GDP is growing due to an influx of over one million newcomers annually, that growth is not translating into higher productivity or increased wealth for individual Canadians. Between the start of 2015 and the end of 2023, real GDP per capita only grew from $57,813 to $58,111 — a $298 or 0.5 per cent increase.

And it may worsen, as recent immigration data suggests that Canada’s population could be expanding more rapidly, despite the Liberal government’s promise to reduce immigration levels.

While the OECD notes that Canada welcomed around one million newcomers annually in 2023 and 2024, equivalent to 3.0% and 2.6% population growth, respectively, new data suggests this could be higher. Federal population data has not yet confirmed the full scope of 2025’s intake.

The report attributes Canada’s sluggish productivity growth in part to the composition of its immigration intake. While Canada once favoured high-skilled immigrants, recent increases have been dominated by temporary and low-skilled workers, along with international students.

“Lower per capita GDP growth also reflects lower productivity of recent immigrants, comprising many low-skilled non-permanent residents,” reads the report.

The OECD warns that the population surge, if not matched by equivalent housing and infrastructure development, can worsen underlying economic issues rather than solve them.

“High immigration cannot be expected to improve GDP per capita or productivity if migrants are mostly absorbed in low-productivity sectors and temporary jobs,” it notes.

The impact is especially acute in housing markets, where record-high immigration has overwhelmed supply. Canada now ranks among the least affordable OECD countries for housing, second only to Portugal by price-to-income ratio.

“Rapid population growth has exacerbated previous housing affordability challenges,” the OECD writes. “Housing supply should keep pace with immigration targets.”

Despite making grand housing promises, like his predecessor, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s housing plan was deemed “just smoke and mirrors” by experts.

The report further warns that despite headline GDP gains, Canada could still be in an actual recession when measured per person — a trend that has persisted since before the pandemic.

“GDP growth received continuous support from high population growth,” the OECD explains. “However, with population growth outpacing GDP growth, GDP per capita has trended lower and fallen below pre-pandemic levels.”

And even with Canada’s population growth inflating its GDP, TD predicts the country will enter a recession and lose 100,000 jobs.

“Canada’s economy has been resilient, but per capita GDP growth has been weak,” reads the report.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre highlighted some of the report’s findings, calling the immigration-related housing problems “another Liberal nightmare.”

“Dramatic immigration surges of modern times, Canada has cratered housing affordability, kneecapped productivity and concealed the true state of its economic growth [finds OECD],” reads a quote from the report he showcased.